The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-11-17
MAN OF GREAT ABILITY.

Two men who had just arrived in the
White Oak settlement" were speaking
of some one named Tompkins, when an
old fellow who had been standing near
advanced and said:
"You are talkin' about young lobe
Tompkins, l reckon"
yes" one of the men replied. Are
you acquainted with him 2"
II reckon I oughter be, when he used
to be my stepson, before his nanny got
a divorce from me, like she dun from his
father an married another Teller. lobe
has got the brightest mind O any man in
this community. You may talk about
| Steve Harker, that's gone to congress, an
Alb Joyner, that belongs to the legislator,
but lobe he's jest nachully got the mind"
"Smart, Is hep"
"Smart! Wy, he jest nachully lays
over anything in this community; an
body in the state that ken touch these
here folks. Smart, wy, femme tell you,
if lobe amt the gov'ner O. this here state
befo' the next six years tharn be a slath-
erin sight O. folks in this part O. the
country that will be goin' round akin the
reason why. Smart-w'y, lemmy tell
NOus WIldU LII uOIlt. Liz 11dO oil O1u III
eyed stumblin' sway-back boss, a rope
bride an a sadden made outen a sheep
skin an some bar'l slaves. The folks
laughed at him fur riggin up SIGH a lay
out, but, never mind, says he, Old Mars
ter has made big room in this here COM
munity for a Teller to snatch up ability
an swing it around by the tail; an,
gehtlemen, let me tell you that he done it.
He started out with that disgustin' rig,
an befo' the end O two weeks he had as
high a steppin' a boss as you ever seed, a
saddle that made a noise like a year-old
baby a-cryin', an a bride that looked
purity enough to take hotter an chaw.'
"He was lucky" said n Of the men.
"Lucky! Wy, [ tell you that he's
got the brightest mind in the state.
Lucky Step out in the road an make
a boss, bride an: saddle. Smart-w'y,
let me tell you. He had a ole COW that
you couldn't sqnz MORN ten drops O. milk
outen with a cider press. What did he
do? Let her lie on his hans like many a
smart man woulder done? No, sir. He
started out, an in less than a week he
came back driven a great big fine COW
that laid the dust with,milk as she walked"
ale is unquestionably a skillful trader"
"a skillful trader! You have hearn
O genius, l reckon. Well, Tobe's a
genius, a plum fat-footed genius"
"And you think he will be governor Of
this state, eh?'
"Just' as shore as you live this mint.
WV, sir, femme tell you with this genius
he ken take the office O justice O the
peace an keep.a tradin' fur fust one office
an then another till the fust thing you
know he'll land slam bang in the COVER
nor's cheer. Smart! Wy sometime ago,
befo' the folks acknowledged his genius,
he fell in:love with a gal so ugly that the
green %>persimmons fell often the trees as:
She. went along the road. What, did she
lido? Did he marry herr. We'll; no.. He
started out tradin': an now he's engaged
to be married to the pHrttiest woman in
the state. Oh, thar ant nothin' that'sbe-
yond the reach: o. his. ability, He's jest
nach4lly bright, an as I say, if he amt
the governor; 8 tits here state you ken
skim the ,stonishment often this commuh-
ity with a spoon.'-Arkansaw Trareler.